Chinese FolkLore Tales - Legends of China

by J. Macgowan

Originally published in London, 1910. A collection of eleven important early Chinese Folk Lore Tales. The book is rich in the myth and legend of early China. Contents Include The Widow Ho, Kwang-Jui and the God of the River, The Beautiful daughter of Liu-Kung, The Fairy Bonze, The Mysterious Buddhist Robe, The Vengeance of the Goddess, The Wonderful Man, The God of the City, The Tragedy of the Yin Family, Sam-Chung and the Water Demon, The Reward of a benevolent life. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Genres: Ebooks, Mythology

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

John Macgowan, 1835–1922

Belfast-born missionary to China with the London Missionary Society, helped to found the Natural Foot Society. Author of many books about Chinese culture and history, and about the Amoy dialect of Chinese

Source: Wikisource

Reviews

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This translation is...not great. A lot of stories about fate, doing your duty, going to the Western heaven and being nice to Kwanyin. I was hoping for a bit more variety.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review

It was very nice in my opinion and I would recommend it to those who are interested in Chinese Folk-Lore. I must say though that
I reviewed it a three because its just not really what I was looking for but obviously its ok that its not my cup of tea everyone has different taste buds in their books and interests. Also I liked how they mentioned the goddess of mercy! Farewell reader.

[Evil Secret Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Chinese Folk-lore I certainly had not heard the stories before. There is a lot of sexism in them but that is true of every culture. There were a few surprises though. It is fun to read stories from different cutlures.

[Omphile Mokgele]

Chinese Folklore tales

[Zahraa زهراء · Rating 3 out of 5]

زنبقة الماء- حكايات شعبية من الصين

خمس قصص شعبية، مسترسلة بعيدة عن التكلف، مكثفة الأحداث
التراث الشعبي الشفهي والمكتوب يجب أن لا يقلل من قيمته، لانه رواته هم الناس البسطاء يتناقلونه على سجيتهم وكل جيل يضفي شيئا على القصة ذاتها.
بطبيعة الحال هي قصص ساذجة سطحية، لكن لا يصح قياسها بمعايير الكتابة الأدبية كالرواية او القصة القصيرة
من خلال هذه الحكايا نتعرف ببساطة على نمط الحياة في الصين القديمة، سنعرف أن الالهة الصينية مختلفة كل الاختلاف عن الهة الديانات الكبرى، الالهة الصينية ظريفة، تحتاج المساعدة وترد الجميل لمن يساعد، وتتدخل لتقلب حياة احد الاشخاص رأسا على عقب من غير سبب:)
سنرى تأثير الافكار الهندية على الصينين، تناسخ الارواح
تقديس الآباء، التضحية، الاخلاص للحب، الاعتكاف في الاديرة لطلب الحكمة، الامبراطور الاب الاكبر

اما زنبقة الماء فهي فتاة تعلقت بخطيبها الذي سبب افلاسه رفض والديها لزواجها، فتذهب متنكرة بزي شحاذة عجوز، وتقطع المسافات لتصل لمنزله ليتم بذلك الزواج، ثم يكتشفان ثروة في منزلهما ويعيشان بسعادة .

كما قيل في المقدمة، التراث الشعبي يثبت وجود "عولمة" قبل ان تولد العولمة الحديثة

وهكذا، تبقى الحكايات سر هذه الأرض الواحدة، نبتها أو لنقل زهرتها الفريدة، التي نبتت من تربتها الخصيبة لتجوب آفاق الدنيا، مبدلة ربما أثوابها وألوانها، ولكن محتفطة دوما بجوهرها الانساني الفسيح والعميق.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRTpE...

[Alz · Rating 2 out of 5]

When compared to other volumes of Chinese folklore and fairytales, the stories in this collection are unremarkable in terms of story, style, or content. Most of the tales meander pedantically about, and some of them start off about one person or incident and then segue into a different storyline without ever resolving the first one. It could be an issue of translation or honesty in staying true to the source, but both the stories and the writing itself lack charm and fail to engage interest, making for a dry reading experience.

[Jessica Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well....

I liked the stories even if things weren't called by their right names. The writer wasn't prejudiced against his subject. I don't know if he was knowledgeable because of MY lack of knowledge in this Area. Still, I object to various spirits being referred to as 'faries'. You can't turn Chinese tales into European tales, but the Author sure tried! Hence the three stars.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the stories were good others were so boring I could barely get through them. The same man seemed to be the main character in nearly all of them, so there wasn't much variety.

[A.R. Jarvis · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was...unfortunate. And terrible. And I only read a story and a half.

[Chu-Salyer Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

O K book;

[mar ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love folklore tales, but this one was kinda boring.... sorry